Moe should consult broadly on COVID-19

It was just a week ago when we saw the cancellation of the formal Saskatchewan 2020-21 budget and — more importantly — perhaps a turning point in Premier Scott Moe’s approach to the COVID -19 crisis.

During his news conference last Wednesday, Moe declared a provincewide state of emergency and imposed added measures including the closure of fitness centres, casinos and the even large religious service assemblies. Moe also made the important statement that “pulling together means we need to stay apart.”

Not only was it important to the now-all-too-familiar dictate that we must change our social interaction by keeping two metres apart to halt the spread of the virus, but also it contained an underlying implication that we all need to do things differently. This is so, but it must begin with Moe and his far-too-confined decisionmaking process.

There’s no doubt Moe’s government has taken a less partisan approach since then, but there’s even less doubt he needs to do more.

The buy-in to the toughbut-justifiable measures imposed by the Saskatchewan Party government needs to be accompanied by an entirely different all-party approach to governance that brings in not only NDP Opposition Leader Ryan Meili but also major civic leaders like Regina Mayor Michael Fougere and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark.

We have already spent valuable time and resources being distracted by the Saskatchewan Party government’s eagerness to shut down Fougere’s call for added social-distancing measures to something less than 25 people. At the very least, more discussion would help unify the message and avoid elected leaders looking like they are squabbling and fighting over territory.

And, frankly, the Sask.

Party government could use outside perspectives right now that extend beyond its own cabinet or caucus.

That a broader perspective is badly needed was evident in Moe’s latest announcement Monday that his government was launching a business response team headed by Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison to “help them navigate this uncertain situation” in the face of the “significant economic hardships for businesses.”

This is obviously a good move because we have to address the reality that jobs and businesses are critical to a functioning society.

That said, that the first place this Sask. Party government would go is appoint a “business response team” and not a “social needs response team” is telling.

British Columbia NDP Premier John Horgan on Monday announced a $5-billion aid package — $2.8 billion in support for individuals and services, and $2.2 billion for businesses. Even Progressive Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that province will provide $200 million in social services relief funding that will “provide direct support to homeless shelters, food banks and the local Red Cross.”

Yet here in Saskatchewan we have yet to see an equivalent response from the Moe government. In fact, you have to search the government website pretty hard to find out basic information like its decision last Friday to “lessen reporting requirements” for Income Assistant clients during COVID -19 because the government isn’t exactly trumpeting this.

This is the outcome of having like-thinking people around the table and that bringing in someone like Meili in this time of crisis might broaden the collective perspective.

It wouldn’t just be a good approach for Moe and the Sask. Party, but virtually every government in our adversarial parliamentary democracy, which isn’t exactly built for times like this. Consider the legitimate concerns from federal Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer over Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempting to sneak in a bill with unlimited tax and spending powers until Dec. 31, 2021. At the very least, it’s a distraction Canadians didn’t need.

Given the Saskatchewan government is still struggling with public-trust issues after getting caught playing election politics when it should been more focused on prepping for COVID-19, it would actually be in Moe’s self-interest to bring aboard the Opposition leader and perhaps others in some way to avoid the criticism that is now distracting from vital government messaging.

Moe needs to lead by example when it comes to pulling together.

Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-post and Saskatoon Starphoenix.